TGS: EA confirms PS3 rumble

By Robert Purchese Published 19 September, 2007

Burnout demo spills beans.

EA has accidentally confirmed that PS3 pads will once again rumble, by giving journalists hands-on experience of it in a Burnout Paradise demo.

One of the reporters doing the shaking was IGN, who was surprised to find itself holding what appeared to be a prototype version of the new Sixaxis pad - featuring an inconspicuous "RUMBLE" sticker on the underside.

However, Sony is still to confirm the existence of such a "last-generation" device, although observers widely expect an announcement about it tonight at the Tokyo Game Show 2007 keynote address.

And you can keep up with everything that happens right here on Eurogamer, by following our Live Text coverage of the address from 2:30 UK time onwards.

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About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (51) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ecureuil #1 4 years ago

    However, Sony is still to confirm the existence of such a "last-generation" device

    Hehe.

  • Dizzy #2 4 years ago

    Last gen FTW ;)

  • HiddenAway #3 4 years ago

    who was surprised to find itself holding what appeared to be a prototype version of the new Sixaxis pad - featuring an inconspicuous "RUMBLE" sticker on the underside.

    An IGN reporter is an it?!
    Edited by 2 at 19/09/07 @ 15:39

  • Les #4 4 years ago

    "Last gen FTW ;)"

    So far, it seems like it is... ;)

    Am curious how much this will increase the weight and shorten the battery life...

  • Darren #5 4 years ago

    I think I want rumble in my PS3 games more than I want PS3 games if I'm honest, I really, really miss it. Going from SEGA Rally on the 360 to MotorStorm on the PS3 makes the latter feel flat and lifeless and just highlights how much the game needs rumble, to me anyway.

  • spadge #6 4 years ago

    They've quite literally been 'rumbled' lol

  • Darren #7 4 years ago

    @Les - Yeah, the battery life is a concern I suppose. My Xbox 360 rechargeable battery packs last around 10-15 hours tops before that light on the pad starts flashing annoyingly. My PS3 controllers on the other hand last around 25-30 hours, possibly more so hopefully rumble doesn't mean half the battery life. Maybe Sony will add improved batteries to the new rumbling SIXAXIS but, hopefully, not those exploding ones!!! LOL

  • belziah #8 4 years ago

    About effing time

  • Steroyd #9 4 years ago

    Wasn't it supposed to be that new touchsense next gen rumble crap?

    Doesn't matter either way MGS is the only title I would feel it's "absence".

  • JediMasterMalik #10 4 years ago

    About time, was expecting it at E3.

  • doomboom #11 4 years ago

    So PS3 owners will shortly have to pay out even more to enjoy their games the way theyre meant to be played.

    Poor bastards

  • Les #12 4 years ago

    "Doesn't matter either way MGS is the only title I would feel it's "absence". "

    +1

    On a side note, I'm not sure whether it's the reduced weight or the lack of rumble, but I seem to suffer less from hand cramps with the SIXAXIS than I did with Dualshock. Does anyone else have the same experience?

  • Killerbee #13 4 years ago

    About time. The sooner these make it into the retain chain and the old Sixaxis controllers get the boot, the better.

  • Darren #14 4 years ago

    @Doomboom - Rumble is an option, you don't need to buy the new one to play the games. It's no different from when Microsoft revised the gi-normous Xbox controller and released the smaller, superior Controller S. Again that was an option (unless your hand were too small to hold the original pad - jesus, looking at it now it was bloody massive! LOL ).

  • Darren #15 4 years ago

    @Les - I don't get cramp from holding the SIXAXIS pad but I do find the poorly designed triggers a bit uncomfortable to hold for racing games, which is how I prefer to play them after years of using the Dreamcast, Xbox and 360 controllers.

  • Les #16 4 years ago

    "@Les - I don't get cramp from holding the SIXAXIS pad but I do find the poorly designed triggers a bit uncomfortable to hold for racing games"

    Yeah, the triggers are bad. Maybe they could turn them back to normal on the rumble-axis. Prefer the face buttons when racing.

  • Steroyd #17 4 years ago

    On a side note, I'm not sure whether it's the reduced weight or the lack of rumble, but I seem to suffer less from hand cramps with the SIXAXIS than I did with Dualshock. Does anyone else have the same experience?

    I suffered my first hand cramps playing with the Sixaxis, damn triggers I can only handle using them periodically so a game like Motorstorm just fuxors my hands, thankfully you can change the configuration to the good ole face buttons. :(

    And I have no idea why the **** EA decided it was a good idea to use triggers for running.

  • Stormflood #18 4 years ago

    I would have put a trigger redesign before rumble. Rumble's nice an' all, but those triggers are ultra sucky.

  • GamesConnoisseur #19 4 years ago

    Hurry up and damn release rumbling enabled sixaxis pad and games for lord sake Sony! This for me is an important and unmissable mean of immersion with games. As it stands I favour X360 and even Wii for most type of games.

    For me it is so doubly important as am Deaf and rely on cues such as knowing when am being hit, i.e. in Silent Hill 2-4 on PS3 with PS2 BC I die easily as was not aware was close to death as would have gotten from increases of heartbeat thumpings via rumbling dualshock.

    Agree that it is very immersive with driving game. I ll be the first in queue to get touchsense or whatever version of SixAxis.

  • zuljin #20 4 years ago

    Unlikely NickyD_o.

  • ostrasized #21 4 years ago

    What a bunch of incompetent morons.
    So, for those of us who were thinking of buying a PS3 this christmas, now we know not to buy any of the boxes on the shelves, but wait for the 'proper' rumble-equipped ones?

    'tards.

  • Hughes. #22 4 years ago

    @doomboom

    360 wireless controller (£32.99) + Play & Charge kit (£14.99) = £47.98
    Wiimote (£29.99) Nunchuk (£14.99) = £44.98
    PS3 SIXAXIS = £34.99

    They've got £9.98 to play with to still be the best value.

  • AcidSnake #23 4 years ago

    @ostrasized:
    They might not bundle them with the PS3...just seperate pads...
    Or they might make a new SKU...

  • Les #24 4 years ago

    @ ostrasized

    Sure isn’t pretty, I agree. Might have been better to just pass on rumble this generation, don’t think it will have a large impact on sales. How did they deal with this btw back in the days of the original PS? By the time I bought it, it already had the dualshock packed in but it started out with a rumbleless controller if I’m not mistaken.

  • Darren #25 4 years ago

    @Hughes. - You can use normal rechargeable batteries with the 360 controller and most people own those anyway so it isn't really a fair comparison really. And most Wii games don't use the Nunchuk for multiplayer games so, again, that is optional.

  • Xerx3s #26 4 years ago

    Oh noes! Such last generation tech was not possible and not wanted on the new l33tnes!

  • Hughes. #27 4 years ago

    If people are happy to fart about swapping rechargable batteries, good for them, I'm not. And having Wii without the Nunchuk is pretty much crippling the experience. As far as I'm concerned I am comparing like for like.

    With the PS3 everything you need is built in, except the rumble :¬D

  • Artemus #28 4 years ago

    About time. Could they patch Motorstorm to add rumble?

  • Hughes. #29 4 years ago

    I'd be very surprised if the code wasn't already there waiting to be switched on.

    I wasn't bothered about rumble, as I'd done without for a few years already, but if any game was going to make its loss achingly apparent it was MotorStorm, and it's pretty much the must have game for the system.

    Shame Sony didn't pull their fingers out of their arse and settle with immersion when MS did.

  • Rirekon #30 4 years ago

    Now Sony just need to redesign their pads to not be crap, get some decent exclusives, and lower the price and I might consider getting a PS3

    edit: @ Hughes.
    If you're comparing like-for-like then you need to include a recharge point for Wii or take it away from the 360, currently you are /not/ comparing like-for-like :-P
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/07 @ 16:49

  • moggsy #31 4 years ago

    If people are happy to fart about swapping rechargable batteries, good for them, I'm not.

    Of course the problem will come when your Dualshock's battery dies...

  • optimusprym8 #32 4 years ago

    I miss the rumble and the SIXAXIS pads are far too light and flimsy feeling, am looking foward to getting a rumbling version as soon as they are available, I need the weight. Never had a hand cramp other than when trying to play DS

  • citizenHUNTER #33 4 years ago

    I'll be interested to see how they turn this into a positive and cast aside all the bollocks they said when they ditched rumble. At the end of the day you had a lawsuit against you so you ditched rumble, why not just be honest instead of consistently going down the PR spin bullshit route (and that sentiment goes to all companies in every industry.. and governments too :p)??!

    Fucking corporate capitalist shitey society, grr :(

  • JediMasterMalik #34 4 years ago

    I'll buy one, but only one. I already have two controller, don't need any more.

  • Les #35 4 years ago

    "Of course the problem will come when your Dualshock's battery dies..."

    ?

  • Razz #36 4 years ago

    I can't wait for the Sony fanboy 180 on this :D

    2006-2007 "We don't need no stinking rumble, I don't even notice it's gone!"

    2007-* "Sony Rumble pwnz!"

    ^_^ Ah hahahaha!

  • Les #37 4 years ago

    "why not just be honest instead of consistently going down the PR spin bullshit route (and that sentiment goes to all companies in every industry.. and governments too :p)??!"

    That's what Phil Harrison did afterwards. But being honest while in litigation/settlement negotiations is very, very, very stupid...

  • cawley1 #38 4 years ago

    Blimey, am I the only one who does not give a toss about a rumble feature?
    Hardly force feedback is it?, and you wait for the headlines in 20 years where it is linked to some RSI shit (videogame Parkinsons?)

  • Les #39 4 years ago

    "Blimey, am I the only one who does not give a toss about a rumble feature?"

    No.

  • JediMasterMalik #40 4 years ago

    Some games use it well, I'll give it that, but it's massively overrated as far as immersion goes. Or maybe tha just happened recently as it was a feature the PS3 didn't have.

  • bioreit #41 4 years ago

    @ Hughes.

    sigh

    Ok then, if this is going to be the "secret 360 and Wii expenses" argument:

    PS3 uses twice as much power as 360, so if you play a PS3 for 20 hours a week, it will cost you roughly £30 a year, as opposed to £15 for a 360 (using a 9p per Kw/h as an average charge). So a £15 difference.

    That £9.98 just got eaten up REAL fast.

    And most hardcore gamers, such as ourselves, will easily top 30 hours a week (so £50 a year for PS3 as opposed to £25 for 360), helping to offset those pesky extra 360 costs, such as a Live sub.

  • Beano #42 4 years ago

    "PS3 uses twice as much power as 360"

    No it doesn't.

    http://ww w.hardcoreware.net/reviews/revi...
    Edited by 1 at 19/09/07 @ 17:19

  • zuljin #43 4 years ago

    @Beano
    Hmmm, I thought the PS3 was round the 250 mark. Was an interesting read anyway.

    @Razz
    "I can't wait for the Sony fanboy 180 on this"
    To be fair, pretty much everyone knew that it was going to come to the PS3, sooner or later. So the "fanboys" saying they don't care about rumble, could possible, ya know, not care about rumble?

  • morriss #44 4 years ago

    So Sony at last admit the motion is for girls and children and bring back the manly rumble. Excellent news.

  • belziah #45 4 years ago

    morriss

    So Sony at last admit the motion is for girls and children and bring back the manly rumble. Excellent news.

    I know a ladies that also enjoy the rumble.

  • PlugMonkey #46 4 years ago

    edit: @ Hughes.
    If you're comparing like-for-like then you need to include a recharge point for Wii or take it away from the 360, currently you are /not/ comparing like-for-like :-P

    Well, strictly speaking, if you're wanting to compare like for like, he should probably take into consideration that my Wii and my 360 came with feature complete controllers in the fucking box. My PS3 apparently didn't. So that's Sony £35 in the hole value wise before we even get on to whether I need a 360 power pack charger or not.

  • bioreit #47 4 years ago

    @ Beano

    Ah, how true. Whoops - PS3's maximium power usage is double, but obviously not constant.

    Hmm, will wait to see what tests are done with games that tax the PS3 a bit more than NBA Live 2K7, like MGS4, but until then, I sprawl-corrected.

    Still higher wattage use though...

    /runs

  • Sid-Nice #48 4 years ago

    Great news; I think the lack of rumble in the Sixaxis was the main reason for the PS3 not selling well.

  • citizenHUNTER #49 4 years ago

    As for immersiveness... did anyone notice the bit in Bioshock (or at least the demo for me) where you first inject the plasmid... if you hold the control pad it rumbles continuously and as he falls over the banister to the ground it just stops dead leaving your hands tingling and consistently gives me a little sick feeling in my stomach (combined with the images)... that's immersion, best use of rumble I've seen besides good racing games (PGR 3 really relays bumps and the weight of the car on the road for example.. it helps a lot).

    Of course, when are we gonna get force feed back analogue sticks in our controllers!? :p

  • RazorObsession #50 4 years ago

    Now all Sony need are some games to make the pad rumble and the PS3 might finally be worth it.

  • morriss #51 4 years ago

    Best use of rumble ever was MGS1. Which is probably why they've put it back in for MGS4, I reckon.

    That sentence makes sense if you imagine whatI'm trying to say.